Frequently Asked Questions

The publishing world is massive, complex, and convoluted. We know you have questions. We have answers.

Why "Wildling"?

So many authors spend a lot of time and energy worrying about what's hot, what's hip, what will sell. We want stories that come from the heart, stories that need to be told--stories the world needs. We want the freest, wildest words from your heart. And we're also just a little bit silly ourselves. Wild things!

Is Wildling Press a vanity press?

Hard no. Vanity publishers will publish and put their name on anything with little regard for its content, and they often do not even vet their submissions! Wildling Press carefully evaluates every manuscript submission we receive and only offers a traditional agreement if it fits within our mission, meets our high standards, and can be published by us at no cost to the author. We will not publish books we don't believe in, nor will we offer self-publishing services to books that are harmful or hateful.

Do you accept book proposals of unfinished manuscripts?

At this time, we only accept submissions if you have a completed manuscript. We understand that many publishers will sign on a non-fiction book after seeing only a proposal, but for now, we can't make those kinds of commitments without seeing a completed manuscript.

How much does it cost to self-publish a book?

Wow! We wish this was an easier question, because we know the answer is important. However, there are a ton of different factors that contribute to the final cost, including subject matter, length, amount of work needed, illustrations, cover needs, and more. Please fill out our quote request form to get a specific quote for your project.

Do I have to give up all control over my book to get it published?

None of our authors will be asked to give up all of their creative agency over their book. Our traditional authors get final veto power on anything we produce--though we will of course give our professional opinions, and we have final veto power as well. It's a partnership! If you're the kind of person who needs to be in total control of every little detail of your creative projects, you're better off self-publishing, and we'll be happy to facilitate that.

Can I call/meet with you/send you a letter/write you a sonnet to tell you all about my book?

We don't mind meeting, but it won't do anyone any good for us to meet up to talk about a book we haven't had the chance to review yet. Start by submitting your book or requesting a self-publishing quote, and then we'll be able to really chat about details and plans when the time comes.

I have a unique project that I really need to explain.

We get it. Shoot us an email at [email protected], or fill out our contact form, and we'll invite you to chat further, submit your manuscript, or fill out our quote request form.

How long does a book have to be?

When it comes to books, size does matter. The recommended length of a book depends on its subject matter. A children's book manuscript may be a single poem on a single page, and we can stretch that into a solid 32-page book. Some adult poetry books can be short, but novels really need to be substantial, or else they may come across as amateur. Here are our recommended guidelines for word count by genre (though these are not hard and fast rules!):
  • ​children's books: varied and depends
  • poetry: varied and depends
  • middle grade: 20k-75k words
  • YA: 60k-90k words
  • adult fiction and any genre fiction besides SFF: 75k-100k
  • adult science fiction/fantasy: 75k-150k words
  • memoir: 50k-90k words

Do you have an office?

At this time, we do not have a physical office. We're happy to meet with you via phone, Zoom, or Google Hangouts, or meet you in person at a coffee shop or similar!

What will my book's cover price be?

A book's cover price depends entirely on its cost to print, which is determined by a variety of factors, including word count, format, size, and more. Most of our books tend to fall into the following ranges:
  • children's picture hardcover: $22.95-25.95
  • children's picture paperback: $12.95-15.95
  • children's chapter book paperback: $11.95-14.95
  • children's chapter book hardcover: $19.95-24.95
  • YA or adult fiction paperback: $15.95-19.95
  • YA or adult fiction hardcover: $24.95-32.95
  • YA or adult nonfiction paperback: $17.95-21.95
  • YA or adult nonfiction hardcover: $24.95-32.95
  • photo book or coffee table book: $29.95-39.95